A dispute has emerged between the fish and shellfish farming industry and the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, over his constitution of the new Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board.
The board, announced by the Minister yesterday, is part of a new regulatory system for the industry which was designed by the former government. The independent appeals board is intended to mirror An Bord Pleanala in hearing objections to licence applications.
Although the initiative has the support of the fish farming sector, the Minister has ignored the nominations submitted by the Irish Salmon Growers' Association (ISGA) and the Irish Shellfish Association (ISA).
"We are furious at the Minister's failure to appoint the nominations from the two democratically elected organisations representing the industry," Mr James Ryan, chairman of the ISGA, said yesterday.
The board is to be chaired by Mr Conor Maguire SC; Ms Berna Grist, a barrister and lecturer in UCD's department of regional and urban planning, is to be his deputy. The members are: Dr Richard Fitzgerald of UCC's Aquaculture Development Centre; Mr Sean Doran, chairman of the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation; Mr Michael Harte, a national teacher from Rosscarbery, Co Cork; Mr Jim Killeen, group production director of Irish Distillers Group, and Mrs Mary Nolan, national Connacht vice-president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association.
The board would "give a voice to all parties with an interest in aquaculture development", and would ensure that licensing was carried out in a responsible way, for the benefit of all, the Minister said. He has also introduced the new licensing arrangements, which have been long awaited under the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act.
Under these arrangements, many licence applications will require an environmental impact study (EIS). Penalties for unlicensed development will also be increased and there are specific provisions for immediate removal of unlicensed equipment.
The ISGA claimed one of the appointments could lead to a conflict of interest. Dr Fitzgerald's Aquaculture Development Centre prepares environmental impact statements for licence applicants.
The new international code for safe operation of ships and pollution prevention, which came into force yesterday, has been welcomed by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods. The ISM code, as it is known, was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation in November 1995, and comes into force this month. It covers high-speed passenger craft, passenger ferries, tankers, bulk carriers and high-speed cargo craft.
